Charles h



(NoModeL) 0. 11. FARMER,

Patented May- 16, 1893'.

- PAPER FILE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. FARMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PAPER-FILE.

\ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,538, dated May 16, 1893.

V 7 Application filed February 13, 1893- Serial No. 462.051. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I. CHARLES H. FARMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Files; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus known as paper files or temporary binders, and has for its object the holding together of a number of loose sheets of paper so that they can be turned one upon the other like the leaves of a book. It has a special adaptability in the temporary binding together of leaves of music so that they can be held in place upon the music rack and will not fall oif or double up.

Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1, shows my paper file with a portion of a sheet of paper in place, a portion being broken away to show the construction of the file. Fig. 2,is a detailed cross-section on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3,isa detailed view of the jaw hinging mechanism with a portion of the plate spring broken away. Fig. 4, is a detail of a sheet of paper, with one of the strengthening washers in place. Fig.5 is an end View showing catch raised.

Throughout the drawings like reference letters refer to like parts.

A, is the file stick which is preferably made in the form of a flat ruler,alitt-le longer than the sheets of paper which are to be filed and of any suitable width, according to the number of sheets of paper which are to be filed.

B, is a curved jaw which may be pointed at its end and which is hinged to, and arranged transversely of, the file stick A. In the drawings two of these jaws are shown but evidently more might be used if it were desired to render the attachment of the sheets of paper to the file stronger. Each of these curved jaws has a spring arrangement acting on its hinge so that it will be held in the closed position as shown in Fig. 2 with suitable force, and also heldin the open position shown in Fig. 5.

The preferred arrangement is that fully plication of a considerable force.

gled extension of the curved jaw B. In this extension is a curved portion D. This extension C, rests in a recess E, formed forit in the file stick A. The plate spring F, slotted or perforated at H, is fastened to the file stick by a screw G, or other suitable apparatus at one end while its other end over-hangs and presses upon the extension 0, of the jaw, retaining itin the recess E, and by virtue of its pressure on the curved portion D, holds the jaw in the shut or open position as shown. The jaw passes through the perforation or slot H. v

To better secure the sheets of paper on the jaw and prevent their slipping out from under the end of the same I usually provide a recess or perforation or depression, I, in the plate spring into and through which the end of the jaw passes so that it is not possible for the sheet to slip out under the end of the jaw.

The above described apparatus will evidently hold any number of sheets of paper together in such shape that they can be turned one upon the other freely after the manner of the leaves of a book but there will be a tendency when the paper is not of considerable strength for it to tear out of and away from the jaws. To prevent this I supply a number of small circular washers K, of stiff paper or card-board or other suitable substance, which washers are provided upon one or both sides with some adhesive material so that they can be firmly attached to the paper sheets L. In order to secure the adjustment of these washers at the right point upon the paper before they are caused to adhere thereto, 1 slip a washer over each jaw before the filing of each particular sheet of paper on said jaw, being careful to see that the adhesive side of the washer is uppermost so that it will come in contact with the first filed sheet. I This sheet having been filed upon the jaws they are snapped down into the closed position and the washer having had its adhesive side sufficiently moistened is pressed against the sheet of paper and adheres thereto thus form ing a reinforced eyelet upon said sheet through which the curved jaw passes and which will not tear out or wear out except upon the ap- In filing additional sheets of paper the above method of operation is repeated. Of course, this method could be varied from if desired but I have found it to be the more convenient manner of operating my invention.

As above pointed out this apparatus is es pecially adapted to the filing together of a number of sheets of music so that they will turn easily one upon the other and be held in an open position when upon the music rack.

The advantages of this file over others lie in the fact that the sheets are given perfect freedom to turn, that no portion of them is inclosed between the jaws of the file as is the case with many files so that a portion of the reading matter is included within said jaws, and yet by means of the convenient curve of the jaws and the easy application of the strengthening washers the sheets will not tea off from the file.

This file is particularly adapted to piano music as it admits of the sheets being turned quickly and as they will always remain flat and smooth and can never break in the center and allow the top of the sheet to fall toward the musician thereby folding the sheet in the center and hiding the notes from view. Sheets that have once been folded, or music clipped from periodicals, can always be kept in proper shape for a musician with this file.

Having, therefore, described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a paper file, the combination of the file stick, the curved jaw hinged to, and arranged transversely of, said file stick, andthe spring for holding said jaw shut or open, substantially as described.

2. In a paper file, the combination of the file stick, the curved jaw hinged to, and arranged transversely of, said file stick, the right angled extension of said jaw, the curve in said extension, the recess in the file stick in which this extension rests, and the plate spring which is fastened at one end to the file stick and overhangs the jaw extension with the other, substantially as described.

3. In a paper file, the combination of the file stick, the curved jaw hinged to, and arranged transversely of, said file stick, the right angled extension of said jaw, the curve in said extension, the recess in the file stick in which this extension rests, and the plate spring which is fastened at one end to the file stick and over-hangs the jaw extension with the other, together with the perforation in the plate spring into which the end of the curved jaw fits, substantially as described.

4. In a paper file, the combination of a file stlck, two or more curved jaws hinged to.and arranged transversely of, said file stick, sheets of paper which may be perforated by said jaws, and a series of small washers strung upon said jaws and provided upon one side with adhesive material for securing their attachment to the sheets of paper when they have been perforated by the jaws, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signatn re in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. FARMER.

Witnesses:

A. P. SMITH, WARREN W. FOSTER. 

